By Robert Goldrich

After a long battle with stomach cancer, Wayne Pedzwater passed away at home last month, surrounded by family and friends. He was 48.

A renowned bass player and mainstay on the New York session scene for some 25 years, Pedzwater was accomplished in commercials, TV shows, feature films, the record album/CD industry and on the touring circuit. He began his career right out of Berklee College of Music when the legendary drummer Buddy Rich heard him play and tapped him to be the bass player for the Buddy Rich Orchestra. Eventually, Pedzwater became a soloist with the band, performing all over the world and on national television.

In 1980, Pedzwater moved to New York and took hold as a session fixture in the Big Apple, recording with such artists as John Lennon and Yoko One on the “Milk and Honey” album, Jeff Beck and Robert Plant as one of the Honey Drippers, Terence Trent D’Arby, The Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson. Pedzwater also toured with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Paul Simon and Bette Midler, among other noted performers.

Pedzwater’s talent and musical diversity made him a favorite choice with varied artists, ranging from Garth Brooks to Placido Domingo, Jimmy Webb to David Sanborn, Carole King and Jewel.

The advertising industry was a vital part of Pedzwater’s career and personal life. Relative to the former, it represented his bread-and-butter work as he played on literally thousands of spots. From a personal standpoint, it was through the ad biz that he met his wife Patty Forbes Petzwater who was a music rep for 12 years, handling such New York music houses as David Horowitz Music Associates (DHMA), Rocket Music, Michael Levine Music and Mambo Music. It was at DHMA that they first met.

Perhaps most telling about the Pedzwaters is that the industry opened its heart to them. During the latter stages of Wayne’s illness–with health insurance running out–Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians set up an emergency relief fund for the Pedzwaters. AFM Local 802’s Wayne Pedzwater Fund is a testament to the warm feelings and high regard he generated throughout music industry ranks.

This was also reflected in a benefit last November in which musicians performed at the Cutting Room in Manhattan. The fundraiser was simply billed as the “Pedzwaterpalooza”

An Internet search for Wayne Pedzwater–and his given surname Pedziwiatr–uncovers innumerable articles chronicling his work, spanning varied musical genres and underscoring his reputation for artistic virtuosity and versatility.

Outside of music, he was for much of his life the picture of health and fitness. Ironically, cancer struck a man who was otherwise physically fit and active. Pedzwater loved the great outdoors and was an avid cyclist, averaging 10,000 miles a season.

Pedzwater is survived by his wife Patty, his mother Loretta Polczynski, his sister Paula Johnson, as well as many nieces, nephews and countless friends.

I first heard about Wayne’s passing in an e-mail sent by DHMA VP/business manager Jan Horowitz, who is also national president of the Association of Music Producers (AMP). She wrote simply, “Sad news this morning. Wayne Pedzwater died last night. …Beloved of many in music and our broader industry.”

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